The Untitled Ren and Stimpy SpongeBob short was a cancelled project by John Kricfalusi that was originally meant to be released as part of the third SpongeBob SquarePants movie, titled Sponge on the Run. It exists in storyboard form on the Cans Without Labels DVD.
Plot[]
The short involves Sven and Stimpy having a great time watching SpongeBob SquarePants on TV. This angers Ren, who believes adult cartoons such as "The Stimpsons" are more intelligent. SpongeBob suddenly makes an announcement on TV that coming to theaters this Christmas, he will be starring in his next movie Sponge Out of Water. This announcement makes Stimpy and Sven so excited they explode violently and gorily all over the room.
During the Christmas season, Ren, Stimpy and Sven all watch Sponge Out of Water at a movie theater. When the movie is over, Ren begins crying, saying that it was a very beautiful cartoon, making him finally realize that even adults can find enjoyment in children’s media.
Stimpy gives Ren a sponge bath, which he is happy about...until he discovers that Sven farted in his bathtub.
Trivia[]
- This was only made as an unfinished animatic, which was included as a special feature in the DVD of Cans Without Labels.
- The legality of this short being on the DVD is quite dubious, given that John Kricfalusi does not own the rights to the Ren & Stimpy characters, much less for SpongeBob.
- The short likely took place in 2014, and in this short, Sponge Out of Water was released in December 2014, which was originally meant to be the actual release date for the film, but in real life, it was released in February 2015.
- Neither Billy West, nor even Eric Bauza, had any involvement with the short, due to refusing to work with John Kricfalusi, who lent his voice to all of the characters in the short.
- Similarly, SpongeBob's actual voice actor Tom Kenny was also not involved with the project. Kricfalusi was the voice of SpongeBob in this short.
- "The Stimpsons" is a reference to (and parody of) the long-running adult animated sitcom The Simpsons.
- Ironically, the American theatrical release for Sponge on the Run was cancelled in June 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was released digitally in the US on March 4, 2021.
- However, it was theatrically released in Canada on August 14, 2020. It was also internationally released on Netflix on November 5, 2020.
- The short itself was cancelled due to Adult Party Cartoon destroying the show's reputation in Viacom's eyes and news of John Kricfalusi's sexual misconduct breaking out.
- Ironically, a Ren and Stimpy reboot was announced for Comedy Central, despite that. According to Billy West, development was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and worldwide, contrary to earlier rumors that the project had been cancelled.